₦airaland Forum

Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The presidency may have finally caved in to the demands by members of the National Assembly for the release of N100 billion meant for constituency projects before they consider and approve any request from the executive arm of government.

Several legislative approvals sought by President Muhammadu Buhari have suffered defeats or delays in recent weeks, particularly the request for the $30 billion external borrowing plan, the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), and virement of N180 billion in the 2016 budget.

THISDAY gathered that so far, about 50 per cent of the constituency funds have been quietly released through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, National Commission for Refugees and other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.

Sources told THISDAY that the leadership of the National Assembly secured commitments from the presidency for the release of the funds.

“Recall that the Senate President met with the president several times last week. So the commencement of the release of the funds would smoothen the path for the approvals being sought by the executive,” a source told THISDAY.

The source, however, noted that while the lawmakers may soft pedal on their initial stance, many of them remain sceptical that the funds would be completely released by the finance ministry.

“The sour relations between both arms of government lingers, so both view each other with suspicion and do not trust each other. Many of the lawmakers are however not convinced that all the money will be released, particularly when considering utterances of the executive.

“Maybe only some lawmakers will eventually benefit,” the source explained.

Another source, who confirmed that the constituency funds were being released, however noted that the executive arm of government is currently making efforts to repair its fractured relations with the legislature.

“Before now, only Dogara (Speaker) and Gbajabiamila seemed to be the sort of balancing forces in the legislature, but obviously the Senate carries more weight.

“If the president cannot have his men there, he has to find a way to work with whoever is there. The House alone cannot pass his requests,” the source said.

Indications that the lawmakers may be somewhat appeased emerged as the leadership of the House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion mandating its Committee on Appropriation to consider the request for the virement of N180 billion.

Other committees to which the virement are related to would also serve as sub-committees of the Appropriation Committee to consider the request. These include the Committees on Nigerian Air Force, Youth Development, Niger Delta and Works, among others.

The motion was sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who recalled that the communication from the president requesting the virement of the funds was read on the floor of the House on October 25.

Presiding, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun put the question on whether the prayer should be accepted. The motion was not subjected to debate as is normally the practice.

A few lawmakers uttered the “ayes” and Lasun hit the gravel before allowing any dissenting voice to register a vote.

No protests however followed the action, indicating that some lobbying by the House leadership might have worked.

Gbajabiamila was observed also engaging several members, including key members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in discussions before he read the motion.

The request would however be returned to the floor of the House for consideration of the committee’s report. At this stage, the request could be accepted or rejected.

Presenting the motion, Gbajabiamila stated that N180 billion appropriated for special intervention (recurrent) and special intervention (capital) is to fund some critical recurrent and capital items.

Gbajabiamila added that the request is intended to address shortfalls in the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation scheme, and military operations in the North-east, among other projects.

“The Nigerian Air Force needs to cover the foreign exchange differentials in the procurement of its critical equipment and augment the contingency vote, and also to provide for the inadequacy in the provision for the NYSC programme in the 2016, among others,” he said.

Gbajabiamila further explained that several MDAs presented issues pertaining to salary shortfalls as it affects those that are not listed on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

Also, the House resolved to summon the Director General of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, over his directive to heads of agencies of government to remit treasury capital funds already released to them.

The DG allegedly directed the management of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to remit N8 billion to the treasury out of N10.3 billion released for the execution of capital projects, leaving the agency with N2.3 billion only.

He is expected to appear before an ad hoc committee to explain what the House said was a worrisome trend.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Agbedi Frederick (Bayelsa PDP), who highlighted the compelling need for FERMA to repair and maintain dilapidated roads across the nation.

He recalled that the sum of N21.8 billion was appropriated for the agency in the 2016 budget, of which N10.3 billion was released in October.

The lawmaker added that the agency had prioritised its capital projects, and contractors who had submitted tenders were bound to lose by the directive of the Budget Office.

“The directive of the DG, Budget Office of the Federation cannot be said to be virement, as virement can only be approved by the National Assembly, which has not done so in this case,” Agbedi said.

He warned that the planned execution of capital projects by agencies would be crippled if the directive is allowed to stand.

Just like the House, the Senate yesterday also commenced legislation on the president’s request for virement of N180.8 billion from the 2016 budget.

Accordingly, the Senate mandated its Committees on Appropriation and Finance to expeditiously treat the president’s request and submit its report within one week for final approval.

Buhari had asked the National Assembly to approve the virement of N180,839,254,439 billion from N500 billion appropriated for the Special Intervention Programme in the 2016 budget to finance other key projects.

A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted N300,000 bail to Emeka Ajezu for allegedly causing the death of his lover who drank sniper insecticide.

Chief Magistrate Ipaye Nwachukwu also ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum.

Ajezu, 33, a resident of Monkey Village, Maza-Maza, Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of “causing death by negligence.”

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that Ajezu was dating 17-year-old Chisome Ekwere, and got her pregnant.

“But when she became pregnant for him, Ajezu refused to take responsibility for the pregnancy because he was planning to get married to another woman.

“Late Ekwere’s elder sister took her to the house of the accused and she started living with him while still pregnant.”

According to him, the accused allegedly told the deceased girl that he was going to the village for his wedding ceremony with another woman.

The prosecutor said that the suicide note the deceased left behind indicated that she drank sniper insecticide because she was heartbroken by Ajezu’s behaviour.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 227 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

The Court adjourned the case until Dec. 20 for mention.
(NAN)

Peter Dada, Akure

The Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum, who is also the Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, has declared that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and all the APC governors in the country are behind the candidate of the party in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

Tinubu and some governors of the party had shunned the inauguration of the campaign of the party in Akure last Thursday where the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, presented the party’s flag to Akeredolu.

But Okorocha explained that there was no division among the leaders  of the APC over the emergence of Akeredolu as the governorship candidate of the party in Ondo.

Okorocha, who spoke with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Tuesday during a solidarity visit, said all the leaders would meet the aggrieved members of the party to resolve all their grievances.

He also assured party members that the APC would win the November 26 election.

He said, “We are not jittery, but we are concerned. We are not happy that we are losing some of our illustrious members of the APC. I will call on them to please make haste and come back.

“Those who are aggrieved by any means should please come back. Sometimes, it is about communication, if the right communication was dispatched, I don’t think this would have happened.

Everybody is still with him (Akeredolu), Bola Tinubu is still with him, the Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Oyo governors are with him. The problem is that, like in all families, we have a communication gap. We are all together and by the grace of God, Ondo State will be APC-compliant.

“The Igbo people will support him not because he is our in-law, but because he is a good man. The PDP and the AD candidates are strong but I know we will win.”

Earlier, at the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Okorocha had said that all the APC governors had met and resolved to work for the victory of the party and its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.

He said, “Your majesty, just to announce to you that I am here on behalf of all the APC governors in Nigeria, we are now 23 in number, all of us are together.

“We are just here to support our in-coming colleague. Let me correct one impression, all the APC governors met and have resolved to support our candidate, there is no division in our family, and the APC is still one.

“That is why the father of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari,  will be coming on Saturday, and will address the people of the state to clear the air to those who doubt the unity of our party. We are united.”

“What brought us together is not interest to acquire power but the interest to bring the necessary change for the economic emancipation of our great nation.

“So, I am here to inform you that I came and Aketi has been chosen by all of us and we are solidly behind him, we are unshakably behind him.”

In his response, Oba Aladetoyinbo assured the governor that the people of Akure were behind the APC candidate.

He said the town would be preparing to host the President on Saturday.

After leaving the palace, Okorocha addressed members of the Igbo community in the state where he urged them to vote for the APC and Akeredolu.

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, on Tuesday justified the killing of some Shiites members by policemen in Kano on Monday.

Ibrahim spoke with State House correspondents shortly after attending the launch of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

About 15 Shiite members and one policeman were said to have lost their lives during the clash between the members of the sect and the police.

The clash was also said to have left no fewer than four policemen and 10 Shiite members injured.

When asked why policemen would resort to killing people while quelling protests, Ibrahim said his men were confronted by protesters who were armed to the teeth.

He said rather than condemning police action, Nigerians should sympathise with the policemen who were killed by those he described as miscreants.

“I agree with what you said (that Nigerians should not be killed while quelling riot) but when you have Nigerians armed to the teeth, killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere.

“I think as Nigerians, we have to appreciate a dangerous situation, and be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants,” he said.

Ibrahim said police officers who had responsibility to ensure law and order decided to move against the group known to always cause crisis.

He said it was unlawful for the sect members to block a major road.

The police boss said, “Obviously from time to time, we have been experiencing upheavals from this set of people.

“As police officers, we have responsibility to ensure there is law and order and when you have people taking over the whole country, dominating streets and buildings, we have to come in to maintain sanity in those areas.

“As of early yesterday (Monday), we got information that they were trying to block Kano to Zaria road. They later assembled in large number and our officers were deployed in the place to ensure freedom of movement of ordinary Nigerians.

“They attacked our officers, killed one of our officers. One has sustained an arrow wound on his head and obviously in such a situation, police have the responsibility to ensure free movement of people on the road. And that was what our officers did.”

Ibrahim added that policemen have the responsibility to ensure that no organisation or individuals constitute themselves into a government and block roads and buildings.

On the claim that the protesters have freedom of worship, the police boss said they could only worship inside mosques or churches and not on the main road.

He urged Nigerians to always respect other people’s rights while carrying out their activities.

Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

An army officer, Musa Lawal, who was reportedly kidnapped in Calabar last Thursday, allegedly faked his abduction.

Lawal was abducted around 10am after leaving a bank along Calabar Road in the Cross River State capital by his cronies, according to a security source.

Southern City News learnt on Sunday that Lawal had allegedly arranged for his abduction to pave the way for an undisclosed illegal movement to Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

In the course of investigation, it was learnt that Lawal had after his encounter with an unknown group in Port Harcourt, travelled back to Eket in Akwa Ibom State where he was eventually found in his girlfriend’s apartment by security operatives.

The source said, “He faked his own kidnap because he wanted to have some time out with a group in Port Harcourt. He had an encounter with them from investigations made. It was an illegal operation that he went for and after the operation he relocated to the girlfriend’s house in Eket.

“He was picked up in his girlfriend’s house in Eket and he is presently being detained in one of the barracks in Calabar. He has confessed that he was not actually kidnapped.”

An Army Barrack resident in Calabar, Kehinde Matthew, confirmed that Lawal was on Saturday taken to his residence by security operatives for a search.

“He was on a leg chain when he was escorted to his apartment in the barracks on Saturday. He was brought in by some security operatives that included military police. He wore a blue jean and black T’ shirt,” he said.

But the Army Public Relations Officer in charge of 13 Brigade, Calabar, Capt. Kayode Owolabi, insisted that there was no case of kidnap.

“Nothing like that ever took place. It is all rumour because it is not possible to abduct someone in Calabar without attracting public attention in the broad day light, let alone a soldier who is fully dressed. You must get a pass before you are allowed to travel.

Whatever they are saying is not true. The man is with us,” he said.

By Michael Eboh


ABUJA—The Federal Government’s draft National Oil Policy has proposed to consolidate Nigeria’s oil industry regulatory authorities into a single agency to be known as Petroleum Regulatory Commission, PRC, while scrapping all other regulators, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, among others.

According to the document released by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, last weekend, the new regulator will incorporate the activities of the existing petroleum regulatory authorities and also cover some new regulatory activities not currently covered.

The document revealed that the existing institutional regulatory framework was weak, largely ineffective and inefficient, arising from a number of single-issue agencies; overlaps in regulation, gaps in regulation, mixture of policy, regulation and operations; and ineffective regulation.

It stated: “Although the agencies generally work well together, their roles, sometimes, overlap and there are significant information gaps within the government as, sometimes, one institution is unaware of what the other is doing.

“At the same time, policy making capacity has been weak, resulting in NNPC and its subsidiaries setting policy and regulation as well as conducting operations in the petroleum sector. The result is an ineffective and inefficient institutional environment in the petroleum sector in Nigeria.”

The draft policy is also proposing that, in order to reduce the inefficiencies in parastatals in the petroleum sector, the proposed single petroleum sector regulatory authority will operate under the policy supervision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

According to the document, the Minister will set the policy for the PRC; ensure monitoring of the implementation of the policy; and ensure monitoring of the performance of the authority.

“This does not mean that the regulatory authority will report to the Ministry on a day to day basis. The new single regulatory authority will be an operationally independent regulatory institution. The Minister’s involvement will be hands off and just to ensure that the regulatory authority properly carries out its roles of implementing the policy,” it explained.

Automatic oil licence renewal jettisoned

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is considering a policy that would rule out the automatic renewal and extension of oil and gas licenses, while it has listed stringent conditions which would be met before these can be granted.

This was also contained in the draft oil policy which indicated that the new oil and gas licensing processes would become more transparent in respect of allocations of oil blocs, mining licences and leases, while local communities would be able to compete in the bids.

According to the draft policy, licence renewals or extensions will now be based on progress made by licence holders in meeting their exploration or production targets.

It stated that licence holders, who do not meet licence conditions, including oil production, gas flare down, gas supply obligations, will risk losing the licence.

Regulate petroleum revenue spending

In addition, the document is proposing a policy that would ensure that certain percentage of petroleum revenue is set aside for capital expenditure and for savings for future generations.

According to the document, under the new policy, the government will agree to a cap on the proportion of petroleum revenues that can be spent on recurrent expenditure, while setting aside a percentage of the petroleum revenue for capital expenditure items and savings for future generations.

To give vent to this proposal, the document disclosed that appropriate legislation would be passed to back the policy.

Unprofitable refineries to be sold

The draft policy also stated that each of the country’s refineries will be given a transition period within which to become viable and profitable, adding, however, that the government intended to divest, sell off, concession or if necessary, close down any non-performing refinery that failed to make the transition.

It stated: “The aim is to make the NNPC refineries successful, high volume, commercially viable enterprises. They will be encouraged to become so and will be supported as much as it is within the government’s ability to do so.

“Of the three NNPC refineries (Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna), Port Harcourt is expected to be the best placed to succeed. It has installed its independent gas-fired power supply; it has undertaken its own turnaround maintenance; it is close to jetties and the pipeline length from crude oil suppliers is short (less of a pipeline security risk); it is operationally ready to produce refined products to international standards, although the cost structure is still not right.

“Of the three, Kaduna, is perhaps, the least ready currently because of its distance from crude oil supplies and reliance on a poorly maintained crude oil pipeline.”

Another measure planned under the new policy for revitalization of the refining sub-sector in Nigeria include the return of storage depot assets to the refineries.

It stated: “The storage depots were originally part of the refineries but had been subsequently transferred from the refineries to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, (now Nigerian Petroleum Marketing Company, NPMC).

“This arrangement is not considered to have been successful. NPMC has failed to manage the depots effectively and the refineries have been denied an important part of their assets. The storage depots will, therefore, be returned to the refineries.

“In addition, the perimeter fence around the refineries will be set sufficiently far from the operations, including depots to ensure that proper security can be maintained. Everything inside the perimeter fence will belong to the refinery solely and will be on each refinery’s asset register.”

Again, the document noted that as part of their new independence, each of the refineries will be given commercial autonomy, meaning that they will be free to take crude oil from wherever and whoever they can.

According to the draft, they are not constrained to take NNPC deliveries only, as under the new policy, each refinery may choose to deal with any crude oil producer apart from NNPC or National Oil Company of Nigeria, NOCN.

“It should be commercially interesting for an International Oil Company, IOC, which has downstream operations in Nigeria, to have their own crude refined and sold in Nigeria, rather than exporting crude across the Atlantic and the refined product to be shipped back,” the document noted.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources said the petroleum industry in Nigeria had been involved in the development of the petroleum policy, through their participation in industry fora and seminars, such as the Nigerian Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the OPTS and the Petroleum Club.

According to the Ministry, the proposed petroleum policy, while driven by the government, is a joint effort of the government and the petroleum industry community in Nigeria, with domestic and international industry involvement.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


The wife of Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer, Mrs Kafayat Oyekunle, has revealed that she is now pregnant for her bricklayer lover, Fatai Alimi.

Alimi was arraigned in court on Thursday for allegedly snatching her from her husband, Suraju Oyekunle in Lagos, Nigeria.

The 36-year-old woman made the revelation when she went to the court to bail Alimi from custody.

She also said her decision to dump her husband and move into Alimi’s home was due to her inability to bear another child after 13 years she had lived with Oyekunle.

She revealed that after their only son was born 12 years ago, they had tried all they could to bear another child to no avail until a few months ago when she met Alimi and she immediately became pregnant for him.

Kafayat denied she was abducted and said it was a decision she took voluntarily because Oyekunle was not taking care of her.

She said since she met Alimi, things had changed in her life and she now had rest of mind.

She also revealed that her family was aware of the development and are in support of her decision.

She added that she will do everything possible to bail Alimi.

When asked to compare Alimi with Oyekunle, she said Alimi was better in everything despite his poor status in the society.

The 34-year-old Alimi was arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly snatching Kafayat.
The incident happened in Igando area of Lagos, Nigeria, where Oyekunle resided with Kafayat and their only son.

Kafayat was allegedly so much in love with Alimi that she packed all her property and moved into the bricklayer’s small apartment in undisclosed place in the same Igando with their only male child.

Kafayat had married Oyegunle for 13 years and the marriage produced their only son before she met Alimi and moved out of her matrimonial home on 15 October, 2016.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that Kafayat told her neighbours that she decided to consolidate on the new relationship by moving into Alimi’s apartment when her husband travelled.

When her husband returned from his trip and did not find his wife and son, he started making inquiries and neighbours informed him that his wife had moved into Alimi’s house as his new wife.

Oyekunle went straight and reported the matter at Igando police division who trailed Alimi and eventually arrested him at a construction site in Igando where he had gone to work.

Ogun State-born Alimi was brought to court on Thursday and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace by taking Kafayat and the only son produced through her marriage to Suraju, knowing full well that she was legally married.

He pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N25,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 12 December, 2016.

by Rosemary Nwisi,


The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday vowed to resist any form of intimidation and threat from any quarters in the December 10 Rivers rerun.

He promised the All Progressive Congress (APC) will match whatever antics and strategies deployed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Nyesom Wike during the exercise.

He also said all candidates of the APC must win at all costs, urging supporters never to succumb to the threats and intimidation of Wike.

The former Rivers governor said the APC will not take security for granted like it did in previous elections in the state.
Wike, according to him, is a thug who is not fit for governance.

Amaechi spoke at a rally in Bera in Gokana local government area, the hometown of APC Rivers South East Senatorial candidate, Magnus Abe.

He said the APC cannot afford to lose any seat in the senatorial district, especially the four Ogoni councils of Khana, Gokana, Eleme and Tai.

Amaechi said: “If there is one place APC that shouldn’t campaign, it is Ogoniland but Wike said he must win here.

“It is not as if he is God. Only God can say that but since he is not God, he will fail.

“Wike can never be God. The battle is not in Ogoniland but in the Ikwerre and Ahoada axis.

“So he had better forget here (Ogoniland). He said he will deploy everything.

“Anything he wants to deploy let him deploy, we will deploy our own.”

Charging APC supporters to square up to Wike and the PDP, Amaechi said: “Do not behave like democrats who went to sleep. Come out and vote.

“The past elections, we took security for granted. This time, we will not take security for granted.

“If Wike likes, let him come out. At all times he had come out I used to ask does this man remember that he is a governor?

“It is only a thug that can stand in front of a Judge’s gate to be struggling with security men, only a thug.

“A governor will go back to his house and call the President. When SSS invaded the presidential lounge of Akwa Ibom state government, what the governor did was to call the President.

“Instead of Wike to call the President, he was struggling with security men.

“In all the fight I had with the federal government under former President Jonathan, nobody saw me physically battling with anybody.

“When I became governor, there were many people appointed by Dr. Peter Odili.

“There were so many businesses by Odili people. I didn’t stop any. Wike is indeed a thug, not a governor.

“He doesn’t know what it takes to govern. The only way to show him that is in this election.

“After this election, he will not come this way again.”
He condemned the appointments of people with questionable character, including alleged cultists and killers into leadership positions across the state, stating they will be answerable to God one day.

“I will urge all of you if anybody threaten you, please threaten back because all Wike does is to come on the radio and you are scared.

“What are you scared of? ‘Oh they are rigging, oh I will you kill John,‘ ‘I will kill you this and that’. He will kill nobody, “Wike ran away when armed robbers came to attack him at Garrison sometimes back, meaning that he loves his life. He loves live and is killing people.”

Speaking on behalf of all the candidates in the senatorial district, Abe noted that the APC government at the federal level has favoured the people of Ogoni in no small measure.

He pointed out the area has been seeking and demanding without results since creation of the state nearly 50 years ago.

In the shortest period APC assumed office, Abe said Ogoniland has been favoured, asking voters to reciprocate the gestures.

by Jide Babalola,


Insists on $29.9b loan in meeting with Saraki

Following two days of brainstorming in Abuja, various teams drawn from the public and private sector have concluded work on various aspects of a new and comprehensive economic blueprint for Nigeria.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma whose ministry organized the retreat stated that contrary to critics’ misleading opinion that the federal government lacks an economic programme, President Muhammadu Buhari had laid out one in his 2016 Budget speech.

According to the minister, the president’s economic vision, the Strategic Implementation Plan drawn up by his ministry along with vibrant ideas canvassed or analysed at the retreat would be harmonised and launched as the federal government’s comprehensive economic development programme next month.

“It is helpful to note that the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan will play a signalling role, while also promoting coherence and coordination.

“In other words, by putting government strategies, directions, policy priorities and intended initiatives in one place, other stakeholders are better able to take their own strategic economic decisions.

“In addition, economic actors in various sectors will be guided by commonly derived objectives in the plan which promote coordination and prevent duplication and needless dissipation of scarce resources.

“The planning process also provides an opportunity to review the trajectory of the economy, especially in the context of regional and global developments,” Senator Udoma stated.

According to him, the federal government’s focus on stimulating and revitalising the Nigerian economy is yielding positive results already, especially through the reforms in agriculture, stimulated investment in the solid minerals sector and the ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign.

He noted that government’s identification of 45, 000 ghost workers through the Treasury Single Account and the liberalization of fuel supply which curbed daily consumption by 30% and saved $4. 5 million daily expenditure through elimination of false subsidy claims are among the recent economic gains.

Pointing out that Nigeria has been grappling with the ‘triple shock of prices, production and power’ for most of 2016, he stated that economic recession, collapse of oil prices and the vandalization of oil pipelines that has a negative effect on electricity and gas supplies are serious challenges.

He said that the two-day retreat was conceptualised to provide an opportunity for stakeholders from the various sectors of the economy to consult and exchange views on the medium-term economic plan and facilitate enduring macroeconomic stability, economic diversification, ease business competitiveness, enhance social inclusion and assess governance processes towards enhancing rapid economic growth.

Among government officials present at the retreat, along with private sector players were the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Alhassan, Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Hajia Fatima Mede, Special Adviser to the President on National Planning, Alhaji Tijani Abdullahi and a Deputy Governor of CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade.

Eminent experts invited to lead brainstorming sessions on macroeconomic reforms include Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Professor Akpan Ekpo, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo from Debt Management Office and Dr. Yemi Kale who heads the National Bureau of Statistics.

Those who examined various aspects of economic growth drivers are Mr. Bode Agusto, Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Mansur Ahmed, Mr. Linus Adie, Mr. Segun Awolowo and Dr Yemi Dipeolu, Economic Adviser in the office of the Vice President.

Those invited to analyse ideas for improving business competitiveness include Mr. Frank Nweke, Dr. Ayo Teriba, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, Mrs Yewande Sadiku and Mr. Louis Edozien.

Aspects of social inclusion and job creation in the forthcoming economic blueprint were handled by Professor Ode Ojowu, Professor Joe Umo, Dr. Martina Nwordu and Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede who is SSA to the Vice President on Job Creation.

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

Students and staff members of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have been thrown into grief following the sudden death of a fresh graduate of the institution, Felix Agandi, who died barely four days after he defended his undergraduate project.

One of Agandi’s coursemates told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that he was dropped at his residence by one of his friends at around 10pm on Monday night.

The coursemate stated that the 27-year-old graduate of Mass Communication was an orphan, who struggled to finance his education from his national diploma days to the time he finished his higher national diploma programme.

The deceased’s neighbours were said to have rushed him to a hospital after he was heard suddenly screaming from his sleep but he was reportedly certified dead right inside the car before he arrived hospital on Tuesday morning.

He said, “We are all in a pensive mood in Iree now because of Felix’s death, who screamed from his sleep and died shortly after that.

“ Felix was a gentle person but jovial. He was humble and hardworking. Despite being an orphan he saw himself through school. His death is an unfortunate one and this week has been one of the saddest ones in recent times in Iree.”

The remains of the Delta State-born student were said to have been buried at Ilesa, Osun State, where he lived with his siblings on the same day.

A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Mr. Tope Abiola, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the institution, confirmed the death of Agandi.

He told our correspondent that the management of the school had visited the deceased’s siblings to commiserate with them.

Abiola said, “The death of the student is still a big shock to everyone of us. We were told that he died in his sleep. He died just some days after he defended his project. There were few corrections made on his project and he was supposed to submit the corrected version when he died.

“He was a cool and hardworking young man. I learnt that he was an orphan but he was focused and determined but unfortunately death snatched him away. May his soul rest in peace.”

Chukwudi Akasike, Simon Utebor, Ifeanyi Onuba, Ade Adesomoju and Ovie Okpare


Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will not be appearing as a defence witness in the trial of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondents gathered in Abuja on Friday that the former President had not indicated any interest in making an appearance in the ongoing trial of any of his former aides.

The ex-President has so far not been named as a party in the case against Dasuki.

Sources familiar with the case argued that the former President is neither an accused person nor a witness, and as such, he is not expected to appear or send a legal representative.

A close Jonathan’s associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, asked, “Why should he appear? He (Jonathan) is not a party to the suit and we are aware that a few persons are desperate to humiliate our former President by dragging him into all this.

“Their aim is to create tension and destabilise us. We will not give enemies of Nigeria the pleasure of destroying our nation.”

Attempts to get the reaction of Jonathan’s media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile telephone indicated that it was switched off. Responses to a text message and an e-mail sent to him were still being expected as of the time of filing this report.

In the same vein, an Ijaw leader and National Chairman, Ogbia Brotherhood, the apex umbrella body of the kinsmen of the former President, Chief Benson Agadaga, described any request made to Jonathan to testify in court as “unthinkable and insulting.”

Regarding the alleged $2.1bn arms scandal, Agadaga said approval was given and the money was disbursed, noting that if the disbursement did not follow due process, the records were there to show who did what.

He said, “The security agencies should have investigated everything, they know what is there. To ask him (Jonathan) to go and testify is an insult. How many other former Presidents have testified in the court? We have yet to see that.

“The approval was given for the money to be disbursed and it was disbursed the way it was wanted. But if the money was disbursed other than what was approved, the records are there to show. I am sure all these things have been documented. The documents should speak for themselves.

“Asking him to go to court to testify is an insult. They are demoralising him. Have they asked former President Shehu Shagari to go to court? Has former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, gone to court any day? Have former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others gone to court?

“If you want to fight corruption, should it be with Jonathan alone? Is Jonathan the originator of corruption in Nigeria? Corruption has been in Nigeria before now. And if people are to be probed, like what happened in Ghana, all the former Heads of State should be probed. If they want to probe corruption, it should start from Shagari’s time. Nobody is an angel.”

Agadaga , therefore, asked Buhari to focus on the economy, stressing that the hardship in the country was becoming too much.

He added, “I think the Federal Government should focus on how to alleviate the hardship in the country for things to be better for all than to ask Jonathan to go to court.

“If you are fighting corruption, make it universal. If it is universal and you are dealing with Mr. B according to how you are dealing with Mr. A, nobody will complain.

But this is very clear. Even a small child knows that it is the opponents of this government that are being persecuted. How many members of the All Progressives Congress have been arraigned anywhere? Are they not corrupt? By now, one would have seen that he has disciplined one or two APC members in his cabinet or present governors of the APC. I do not see any of them being investigated. It is very clear that it is a one-sided approach.”

The Ijaw Youth Council said that the former President need not testify for anybody.

The IYC spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption appeared to be an instrument of victimisation against perceived political opponents.

“All these calls and talks about the former President are aimed at humiliating him (Jonathan),” he said.

yang:
This is why we condemn the zoo genocidist Army of Nigeria and the terrorist buhari in charge

The only country where a govt sees a citizen, travelling quietly with a barge on a waterway and the genocide army takes a jet and bombs on its own soil, its so called citizen

what happened to the courts, what happened to fair hearing, someone on the barge has been killed without being arrested

As we keep saying, he who stands for injustice is an animal

we will leave the zoo and then the terrorist buhari can go back to sahar desert where he is truly from and not the blessed land of God.

Skye Bank Plc has taken possession of the tank farms and business premises of Obat Oil in Apapa Business District of Lagos State.

Obat Oil is owned by flamboyant business magnate and Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru-Akinruntan.

The bank took possession of the oil company Friday afternoon.

The development followed an October 28, 2016 ruling of a Federal High Court in Lagos over an outstanding debt to the Bank in excess of N1.5 billion by Obat Oil.

The ruling was given by Justice Jude Dagat.
There is no reaction from the company as at press time.

A man identified as Onyemaechi was burnt alive during an outbreak of violence at the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state.

Ogbonnaya Nta, spokesman of the Abia state police command, confirmed the incident to NAN, but did not give details of how Onyemachi was killed.

Nta said the deceased was a member of staff of Isialangwa north local government, venue of the election.

He added that three others sustained injuries, revealing that the command had arrested four persons in connection with the mayhem.

A witness said trouble broke out when some delegates rejected the list presented by officials who were to conduct the exercise.

He said the delegates threatened to disrupt the exercise on the grounds that the list was allegedly “doctored” to favour a particular aspirant.

The witness said in the midst of the crisis, “somebody sneaked into the chairman’s office with a jerrycan of petrol and set the place ablaze”.

“The intention was to burn the disputed list.”
The primary, which were organised to elect the party’s flag bearers for the December 17 local government election in the state, was stalemated in most of the 17 council areas due to violence.

There were also allegations of attempts by some powerful politicians to impose their “anointed’’ candidates.

Don Ubani, publicity secretary of the party, denied the allegations in a telephone interview, but admitted that there were “minor skirmishes during the exercise in some local government areas”.

Ubani said the party’s leadership was still reviewing the reports of the election committees.

Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

A soldier, Musa Lawal, attached to the 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army was on Thursday kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the busy Calabar Road in Calabar, Cross River State.

Lawal had just stepped out of the bank when the gunmen bundled him into a waiting vehicle and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

An eyewitness, Emma Abang, said the incident happened at about 10a.m in the presence of security officials in the bank.

He said, “The army officer was kidnapped in front of one of the popular banks along Calabar Road after he had finished his transactions.

“It was not clear whether they kidnapped him because of the transaction he went to carry out; but they just whisked him into their vehicle and zoomed off. They took him to an unknown destination.”

A security operative, who prefers anonymity, confirmed the kidnap; but the Army Public Relations Officer in charge of 13 Brigade, Calabar, Capt. Kayode Owolabi, said he was not aware of it.

Olaleye Aluko

A sales boy, Akeem Tajudeen, has been stabbed to death in Ilaje Otumara, in the Iponri area of Lagos State, by some hoodlums.

PUNCH Metro learnt that 23-year-old Akeem was stabbed on Monday with a knife by one Abeeb, who allegedly claimed that Akeem came to a birthday party on Saturday in the neighbouring Olokodana area, when he was not invited.

Our correspondent gathered that Akeem, who hailed from Ilorin, Kwara State, was killed on Monday around 9pm.

It was gathered that the hoodlums trailed him to his house and “punished him for daring to gatecrash our party.”

It was learnt that there was tension in the area as the hoodlums also injured two other youths before fleeing the community.

The matter was said to have been reported at the Iponri Police Division.

Our correspondent was told that a manhunt had been launched by the police for runaway Abeeb, whose parents had also fled from their house to evade arrest.

When PUNCH Metro got to the area on Wednesday, a resident, who did not want his name in print, said the deceased’s offence was that he attended a birthday party in a gangsters’ area.

He said, “The party Akeem and his friends went for was on Saturday in Olokodana. At the party, Abeeb, one Austin and other hoodlums challenged them for attending the birthday party, but they settled it and left.

“But on Monday, the same Abeeb went to Ilaje Otumara, and started a fight with some boys. Akeem was spotted and Abeeb stabbed him with a knife in the chest, saying he gatecrashed their party on Saturday.

The boy slumped and was left in a pool of blood.
“We tried to arrest Abeeb, but he stabbed two other youths before he escaped.

“When policemen from Iponri came, Abeeb and his gang members had escaped from the scene. His parents have also relocated due to fear of arrest.”

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Akeem’s father, Tajudeen Owonikoko, an inter-state driver, said he received the sad news on the telephone while at work.

He added that the police should fish out the killer of his son and bring him to justice.

He said, “Akeem is my only son. He was not a troublesome boy. I was at work on Monday when they called me that someone had stabbed him to death.

“My wife has been hospitalised since that Monday. I want the police to arrest the killer of Akeem. I want him to be brought to justice because he has thrown my family into mourning.”

Our correspondent learnt that Akeem had been buried on Tuesday.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, had yet to reply to a text message sent to her mobile phone on the incident.

lalasticlala

Smellymouth:
Where the pishure of the "pulled" Borbi?

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari got a unique gift of a goat during his just-concluded two-day official visit to Edo State.

The goat was said to have been presented to Buhari by an elderly lady, Egbon Grace, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress in Ward 7, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

A government official told journalists on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the lady said she had longed to meet the President to show her admiration for “his selfless lifestyle and passion to liberate the masses.”

The official said opportunity came for the lady on Monday when Buhari inaugurated the ultra-modern Samuel Ogbemudia College in Benin City.

“Lady Grace braced the odds and came all the way with her surprise gift to Mr. President which she had kept in waiting for the special occasion.

“She tore through the thick crowd, making her way straight to the President who at the time had finished the official engagement and was heading for his waiting car.

“Many in the crowd got emotional seeing the elderly lady pull through the crowd with the goat, determined to make a presentation to the President,” the source said.

The source added that Governor Adams Oshiomhole who noticed the security cordon between the lady and the President, alighted from the President’s convoy to receive the goat on behalf of the President.

He said Grace later had an opportunity to interact briefly with Buhari and the Governor.

She was said to have thanked the President for accepting the gift which was handed over to protocol officials.

In his remarks on behalf of the President, Oshiomhole commended Grace for her kind gesture.

Olaleye Aluko

The Iponri Police Division in the Lagos State Police Command was thrown into mourning on Tuesday after the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Segun Fagbohun, vomited in his car and later died in a hospital.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Fagbohun, a 43-year-old police officer who hailed from Odo-Aye, Ondo State, had been battling ulcer for some months.

Our correspondent gathered that the DPO, on Tuesday around 8am, was driven by his brother to keep an appointment, when he complained about his health.

It was learnt that the brother, whose name had yet to be ascertained, advised that they stopped at a hospital for a checkup.

PUNCH Metro learnt that as soon as the brother made the suggestion, the DPO started vomiting in the car.

The brother was said to have quickly rushed him to a hospital in the Ikeja area.

It was said that doctors at the private hospital suggested to the brother that the DPO be referred to another hospital. However, Faghohun died before he could be moved.

A police source told our correspondent that Fagbohun was transferred from the Igando Police Division to Iponri about a month ago.

The source added that the DPO had also recently sustained a gunshot injury during a shootout with vandals in the Igando area.

He said, “The DPO had been sick for some time. He was moved from Igando to Iponri division about a month ago. He had been in and out of hospital. He was discharged from a hospital just last week Thursday.

“He was on his way to keep an appointment on Tuesday when he suddenly started vomiting and later slumped inside a car being driven by his brother, an engineer. The DPO was thereafter rushed to a hospital.

 “The hospital authorities referred him to another hospital because of his critical condition, but before they could move him out, he died. The doctors on duty confirmed him dead.

“Fagbohun’s health deteriorated after his time at the Igando division, where he battled with pipeline vandals. On one occasion, he was shot by the vandals.”

A DPO in Lagos told our correspondent on Tuesday that each of them had pledged N30,000 to help the ailing officer with medical bills until his sudden death.

Our correspondent learnt that the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, visited the late police officer’s wife and children around 10am on Tuesday.

The corpse of the DPO was said to have been deposited at the morgue of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said an autopsy would be carried out on the corpse of the DPO, adding that the command did not suspect any foul play.

She said, “The command received the news as a rude shock. It came early in the morning on Tuesday to the CP, and the command is mourning. The deceased was one of our gallant officers. He was one of those who held the Igando division against the invasion of the militants.

“His corpse has been deposited in a morgue. An autopsy is going to be conducted on the corpse. The command does not suspect any foul play, unless if the autopsy reveals otherwise.”

Etim Ekpimah, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 30-year old woman, Peace Chukwuemeka, for stealing a month-old baby from her mother.

It was alleged that Chukwuemeka drugged the mother of the baby before stealing the child.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Murtala Mani, said this while speaking with journalists on the activities of the command in Uyo on Tuesday.

Mani, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, stated that the suspect lived in the same compound with the mother of the baby at Mbak Itam in Itu Local Government Area.

He added that the family unit of the command, acting on intelligence, rescued the baby and handed it over to the mother.

“Let us say clearly that in the month of November, the Acid Section through the Family Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom was able to record a great feat by bringing back a one-month-and-some-few-days-old baby to her mother in Akwa Ibom.

“The suspected woman, who has been married for some years without giving birth to a baby, left Lagos State for Uyo, stayed in a compound in Mbak Itam with the intention to steal a baby from her neighbour.

“The Family Unit of the command, through intelligence report, was able to rescue the baby,” Mani said.

Mani added that the police also rescued a four-year-old boy from a young man, who snatched him from his mother at gun point.

Confessing to the crime, Peace Chukwuemeka, said she had married for 10 years without giving birth to a child and had been desperate to have a baby.
She, however, denied drugging the mother of the baby.

“I did not give anything to the mother; it was a coincidence that she was asleep and seized that opportunity to take the baby.

“I have been married for 10 years now, so I need a baby of my own. I took the baby to my mother in the village but she refused to collect her from me. I came back to Akwa Ibom and the mother of the baby started asking me of her baby and I was arrested,” Chukwuemeka confessed.

Afeez Hanafi

An estate agent, Yusuf Ayinla, has accused the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of shielding its officials, who allegedly shot him and injured his three-year-old son.

He said the command had yet to probe the operatives who stormed his residence on Fijabi Road, Bode Olude, in Abeokuta on September 25, allegedly shot him in the hand and smashed the butt of a gun on his son’s mouth.

This is just as the state police command said it had commenced investigation into the alleged assault and promised to ensure that the operatives did not go unpunished if found culpable.

PUNCH Metro learnt the operatives had invaded the area on the instruction of their colleague, identified simply as Ismaila, who had had a disagreement with Ayinla and other members of a riders’ association the previous day.

They had reportedly cautioned Ismaila at a motorcycle park in the Itoko Junction, Abeokuta, for overloading.

“There were two women at the back of his motorcycle and one of them had a baby. He also allowed two children to sit on the fuel tank. He was going towards the Ake area when an executive member of the riders’ association in the park, Gbenga, stopped him and asked him to pay for a ticket.

“He introduced himself as an NSCDC officer and refused to pay; Gbenga then scolded him for overloading the motorcycle. He said it was embarrassing that an officer could be breaching the law. He (the officer) became angry. I blamed the officer too,” Ayinla said.

Ayinla told our correspondent that the altercation worsened and one of the riders slapped the officer’s back.

“I pleaded with them and they allowed him to go. He vowed to come back with his colleagues,” he added.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a few hours later, about 14 NSCDC operatives, including the officer, went to the park, arrested Gbenga and whisked him away to their office in Oke-Mosan.

One Musibau, Gbenga’s brother was also reportedly detained when he went to secure his brother’s release. They were, however, released the following day.

Ayinla said, “On the morning of the following day, the NSCDC men came to arrest me. I insisted that I would not follow them because I had not done anything wrong. As I was trying to run away, one of them shot me in the hand.

“They dragged me to my apartment and asked for my car key. I told them I didn’t know where I kept it. While we were searching for the key, one of them hit my son, Farooq, with the butt of his gun in the cheek.

“After they found the key, some of them entered my car and drove off. They bundled me into their van and took me to their office. As they were about to enter my car, I told them I kept N700,000 there.”

Our correspondent gathered that the operatives later took Ayinla to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, where Farooq was also admitted.

“At the hospital, they returned N23,100 to my brother, saying that was what remained of the money they found in my car after paying for my medical bills. We reported the incident at the Adatan Police Division. But the police told us that the officials had not shown up for investigation. I know they are being deliberately protected by the NSCDC authorities,” he added.

Ayinla’s neighbour, Jimoh Jamiu, said an officer smashed a gun on his thighs when he tried to caution them.

“What those officers did was very wrong. They were shooting continuously. I approached their team leader, one Bamidele, to talk to him. He hit my thighs with the butt of his gun and told me to leave,” Jamiu said.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Olanrewaju Kareem, said the command was investigating the matter.

He said, “The administrative department of the command is investigating the case. The police are also conducting their investigation. At some point, we will reach a logical conclusion.

“The family of the victims had been invited and we assured them justice would be done if the officers are found guilty of the allegation.”

The state police command’s spokesperson, ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, said, “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Eleweran. We are following due process.”

A former lawmaker, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, said: “It will not be fair to say every lawmaker comes to the National Assembly to make money. But it is true that many come with that thinking that it is a goldmine. It will certainly be good to make public office unattractive so that only the best and those ready to serve will stand in election.”

Johnchuks Onuanyim

… Kwakwanso aligns with Tinubu

The crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the plot to remove the party National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has taken another dimension as the Political Advisory Council, (PAC) of the national chairman has embarked on canvassing support for their principal.

As the Advisory Council reaches out to party’s faithful to save the National Chairman’s office, some other persons are aligning with those, who are pushing for the removal of the APC national chairman. One such person is the former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwakanso. Kwakwanso, who has lost out to the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje on the leadership tussle of APC in the state, joined forces on the clarion call that Oyegun ‘must go.’

At the forefront that Oyegun should resign or be removed is the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. David Babachir, the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the embattled Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank. Babachir and oshiomhole are political allies of the APC national leader.

But speaking to Sunday Telegraph exclusively, one of the Seven-member Political Advisory Council to the APC National Chairman stated that the good thing about the fight and the allegations against their principal is that the President and leader of APC knows the truth. According to him, they have decided to reach out to other chieftains and stalwart of the party on the need to support Oyegun as the APC National Chairman.

He stated that every plot to remove Oyegun would fail, just as the political to nominate him for Ambassadorial appointment failed. The Advisory Council member stated that it took the dexterity of the President nit to include Oyegun’s name on the list of none career ambassadorial appointment. On why the President did not include Oyegun’s name of the Ambassadorial list, he said, “The President has said no to it and that there is a process of removing the National Chairman and that he cannot be removed by posting him out without telling him.

That was what the President said. “The President was very categorical that you don’t remove the National Chairman of a party by just posting him out. He is just not anybody. If he was an outsider it would have been a different thing and as you also know, the National Chairman also has a right to reject any appointment.”

To buttress that the APC national chairman is gathering support, the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Thursday, stated, that Oyegun cannot be bullied out of office.

Okorocha, who agreed that there was crisis in the party, however, commended the Oyegun-led National Working Committee. He said, “I want to assure them that no one will bully them out or husk them out. But, where there is need to make amendment, which is natural within any human organisation, the party will be restructured for the purpose of making it stronger and to move forward as a people and as a party.